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3.3 overallI've had Tracfone for seven years
By David WP, posted: May 10The good: Inexpensive, has voice mail when I am offline, has always worked. My main reason for a cellphone is emergencies. Much of the time it is turned off.
The bad: CSRs difficult to understand due to non-english native and connection to Belize is faint. Recent contact with them has been positive though you need patience. Entering two sets of 16 digit numbers into code entry can be tiring:) Tracfone is not for the faint of heart or impatient. Jitterbug might be a better choice for non-technical seniors. Summary: Main problem was that my Motorola 120C stopped receiving calls in May 2010, probably because of changes in cell phone standards. Neither internet instructions (I turned the phone into a really inert brick) nor the TF CSR could reactivate it. I was advised i needed a new phone. Radio Shack dealer confirmed that. I bought a new Samsung 301G (from Walmart) and thru CSR was able to activate it and recover much of my unused time from the old phone. As a phone it is fine. The other features are much too convoluted. I tried 'browser' wasted units with it. That's why we have computers folks. Lack of a good manual for the phone is a hinderance. It needs a good menu tree documentation. As a senior i have a short-term memory problem;essential for following these things. Some features of the phone may be unusable. I got voice mail working. I don't text; no reason to.
The camera works, but it would be nice if there would be a way to send the pictures to my E-mail address. Maybe there is, but with the murky documentation hard to determine.
I have always bought the year card. That comes out to about $9.00 a month.report
- 0 people found this review helpful
1.0 overallTotally inept
By Michael Parker, posted: Apr 10The good: nothingThe bad: everythingSummary: My first e-mail sent Saturday, April 24, 2010
I am very unhappy. I'm a new customer and have experienced total lack of knowledge with your CSR's. I have spent over 90 minutes, 8 separate phone calls, talking to 8 different people and not one person resolved the issue. It's simple- I purchased a 60 minute pre-pay card and a phone using the website. The phone arrived, I activated it, received 20 bonus minutes and that's all. Not my 60 min.'s pre-paid nor the double minutes for life as promised for buying the motorola W376g. I am wanting to cancel, return the phone, get all my money back and go elsewhere. I have never experienced such inept service with a cell phone provider. When I requested to speak to a supervisor I was told "They are in a meeting", and "the supervisor is too busy", or other such excuses. Twice, I was transferred to a supervisor, only to be left on hold for over ten minutes each time. I had to hang up and call back, start all over with a new inept CSR and try again. It seems TracFone is daring me to try to use my purchase and TracFone will do its very best to stop me. I will be posting a copy of this complaint on every website that does cell phone reviews and warn all others of your gross negligence. I will also include your reply. I doubt that you will even get back to me in a timely manner as it is now Saturday a.m. Should I have to call the 800 number using the 20 min.s I have left to resolve your problem? I do not have any other phone so that is the only option left to me. Will I be reimbursed for my troubles? At this point the only thing that will satisfy me is free cell phone service for life.
TracFone reply
Thank you for your interest in TracFone Wireless. We are responding to your recent inquiry. We would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced with this issue. We consider the suggestion our customers offer very important. We always welcome the opinions our customers express in regards to our quality, technical procedures, products and overall service.
According to our system, the TracFone with ESN/IMEI/Serial number xxxxxxxxx is currently active with a Double Minute Plan. If you purchased the phone with a 60-minute airtime card, please reply to this email with the 15-digit PIN number. If your purchase included this card, but you did not receive it, please reply to this email with the order
number or contact our Sales Support Department at 1-800-323-2366. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact one of our customer care representatives at 1-800-867-7183. For your convenience, our representatives are available Monday-Sunday from 8:00 AM to 10:45 PM EST. To expedite your call, please have your TracFone handset and serial number available.
Thank you for being a TracFone Wireless customer. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
TracFone Wireless
My response
I did not receive a 60 minute cardreport- 2 people found this review helpful
2.3 overallLocal call $20!
By Kenneth Iman, posted: Apr 10The good: No contract. The bad: One minute of air time for EVERY minute you talk; even locally!Summary: A friend about a mile away called the other day. We rarely talk and ended up talking for 60 minutes. Tracphone charges one minute of airtime for every minute you talk. So that one call cost me a $20.00 60 minute air time card. Walmart has 1000 minutes for $30. Even with their double minutes for life, Tracphone is a terrible deal. I used Tracphone for 2 years but now I am done with them.report- 1 people found this review helpful
4.0 overall5th year as customer, 4th Tracphone - Reliable and Cheap
By Tom Burchill, posted: Apr 10The good: Cheap! Works great!The bad: Nothing fancy here. If you're looking for the coolest and latest, this is not the phone for you.Summary: Tracphone usage runs me an average of about $12/mo. In the 5-1/2 years as a customer, I have never had a problem and the phones work just fine. I am currently on my 4th Tracphone. Nobody can touch these guys if you just need to have a cheap basic phone for infrequent use. I am one very satisfied customer and very much richer for using Tracphone over any other service. I have saved tons of $$$ over the years.report- 0 people found this review helpful
1.7 overallNo Help if you have a problem
By Robert Gagnon, posted: Mar 10The good: Service was generally reliableThe bad: They are difficult to work with when there is a problem.Summary: They somehow gave away my daughter's phone number leaving her without service. I spent 4 hours on the phone one day and was promised that "my problem was being bumped up to the corporate HQ and it would be fixed in 24-48 hours. Surprise it wasn't. So after another 2 hours on phone I was told I would need a new phone number (my daughter was in tears when she heard this) and they would have to send me a new SIM card. They offered me 50 minutes for compensation for my time. Now I have been on the phone for 6 hours for a problem they created and that is worth the equivalent of what $10.00. They are the losers in the end because when my current time expires I will be taking the 5 Tracfones and going to their competitors. I have been a customer of them for several years and if I thought their compensation was not insulting would have continued on despite this bump in the road. At over $100-200 dollars worth of minutes per phone they are the losers.report- 2 people found this review helpful
3.0 overallNot to bad.
By Sasha Will, posted: Feb 10The good: Price
Cellphone ServiceThe bad: No international textingSummary: I was soo upset to see no international texting. They led you on to believe you could only to read the fine print (after I purchased because they didn't post it anywhere else) that I was not allowed and if I tried I would have my cellphone terminated. WTF? I bought this phone because of the good prices and the no contract. I hope they add international text messages as this would keep me as a lifetime user. I am now thinking of switching cellphone companies and from the reviews on here I probably should.report- 1 people found this review helpful
1.0 overallDon't walk...RUN away from these scammers
By sophia bernier, posted: Feb 10The good: NOT ONEThe bad: Service, service oh, did I mention service?Summary: I am on my second Tracfone. The first one worked for 5 minutes until I tried to change the phone number with a Tracfone representative. Problem couldn't be resolved so they sent a 2nd phone. That phone never worked. I've spent more than 2 hours talking to these idiots who simply respond based on whatever is written in front of them regardless of whether it relates to the conservation. I have been more than patient, spoken to countless representatives and been "accidentally disconnected twice. I despise these people and will NEVER EVER EVER buy anthing from them again. In addition, I will make it my person mission to inform everyone who will listen that this company is hideous and unprofessional to deal with. Ahhh. I feel much better already.report- 2 people found this review helpful
1.0 overallDo not get involved with Tracfone!
By Carolyn Stafford, posted: Feb 10The good: None, I could find.The bad: Customer service by internet or phone doesn't exist.Summary: My tracfone quit working, so I called and talked to an operator in Belize, who had me punch numbers and codes into my phone and then said it would work. It didn't, so I bought a new phone and called to transfer my 655 minutes and time to it. I talked to another operator in Belize and he told me the phone would be activated in 72 hours. It wasn't! He also removed all the minutes and time from my old phone. When I called back, I got another operator in Belize and after an hour, she said there was a problem and she would have to transfer me to another operator. She hung up. I went on their site on the internet and wrote e-mails to customer service. Nothing came of that. I wonder how much they scam from their customers? I lost 655 minutes, but I learned a valuable lesson. Find another cell phone company!report- 1 people found this review helpful
4.5 overallI'm satisfied.
By Cameron Joyner, posted: Feb 10The good: No contract, good reception, service everywhere I go.The bad: Phones are basic.Summary: The site is funny...so many bad reviews from people who have dealt with customer service. Why are you people even having to call them in the first place? I don't really understand this. I've had Tracfone for two years and have never had to speak to a Tracfone representative on the phone. I bought a Tracfone at Target and activated the phone right on the computer. It took less than five minutes. You can also add your minute cards directly on the phone itself just by entering the number on the card. So I have no idea why everyone is needing to call them in the first place.
I went with Tracfone because I only use my cell phone whenever I am not home. I needed a cell phone in case my car broke down on the road, I had to call 911, or if my family needed to reach me when I wasn't home. If you need a cell phone for situations like this, or for emergencies, Tracfone is the best bet. I wouldn't think of paying a monthly bill or signing a contract because I don't talk on my cell phone that much. With Tracfone, you just buy minute cards at the store or on the website, as needed. One 60-minute card can last me over a month or more, bringing my total cell phone cost to $19.99 every few months. Can't beat that. You simply add more minutes before your service days run out (each card adds 90 days to your service day count).
My calls have all been clear and crisp. The service is fine. And I have had service everywhere I go. I even have service in places some of my friends and family don't.
The phones are simple and basic. You won't get Tracfone for the cool features and all that. These are definitely not iPhones. But that doesn't bother me because I don't need any of that. I have a computer at home for the Internet and I don't need games and music on my cell phone, so...to each their own. It's to make calls, it's not a toy.
Text messaging deducts a third of a minute from your count. So you can send about three text messages for every minute you have. You are also not charged for a text message unless you open it and read it. I don't read text messages that are sent to me to avoid wasting my minutes.
Basically these are great little phones to use when you NEED a cell phone. Not to just jabber on and play with because you're bored. I add minute cards as-needed every two months or so and I have the security of a cell phone in case I need it when I'm not home. The calls come in clear, I've never had an issue with anything, and I'm satisfied.report- 7 people found this review helpful
1.0 overallTracfone Fraud
By T. N., posted: Feb 10The good: Cheap.The bad: Does not upload purchased minutes.Summary: Have purchased the family plan. Each month, one phone gets its minutes, the other does not. I call them each month, spending 30-40 minutes, listening to them apologize, and have them tell me my phone was not turned on. This has been going on for eight months without resolution.report- 1 people found this review helpful
